If you’re familiar with the term “guinea pig,” you probably associate it with an indoor rodent that’s often used for testing cosmetics or a pet.
But the term actually originated from South America, where guinea pigs were kept as food and fur by native tribes several centuries ago.
Although their main natural habitat is the Andes mountain range and coastal areas of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, they are also commonly found in North America.
Many people raise guinea pigs as pets because they are gentle, curious animals that love to play. They can be socialized with other pets and even adoptable as house mates.
However, they are not a good choice as housemates if you don’t have experience handling small animals or live in an apartment since they will require a lot of space and possibly a room of their own to feel comfortable.
What Did Guinea Pigs Evolve From?
Guinea pigs are members of the porcine family. They are related to wild pigs, which is why some people believe they evolved from them.
The first guinea pig was discovered in 1554 by Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, who named the animal due to its resemblance to the native currency of his home country, Guinea.
The Spanish brought guinea pigs back to Europe and the species became popular as a food source with upper-class families and their cats.
Why Is A Guinea Pig Called A Pig?
When you hear the term “pig,” you might immediately think of a four-legged animal that’s commonly used for farming or eating pork.
But the term actually originated from Ireland in the 1200s, where it was originally called a “pike.” The word pig comes from the Old English word “pick,” which is short for pickaninny, meaning “young one.”
In 1386, Irish author Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about a pig called Piggie in his poem The Nun’s Priest’s Tale. One day in St. Anthony’s market, a merchant sells a pig to a man who believes he will be able to pass it off as bacon when he cooks what he believes is his new piggy at home.
Unbeknownst to him and all the people who shopped there that day, this particular piglet was really a guinea pig. When people began calling pigs guinea pigs because they were originally kept as food and fur by native South American tribes centuries ago, the name stuck.
What Is The Closest Relative To A Guinea Pig?
The closest relative to a guinea pig is the domesticated pig.
Because they are both herbivores, they share similar eating habits. In fact, pigs and guinea pigs may actually be related because the two species have some similarities in their DNA and genes.
Guinea pigs are known for their fuzzy coats and round noses, while pigs tend to have longer snouts and more defined features.
Although it’s difficult to know what a guinea pig would look like if it had a smaller body size, a guinea pig could easily be confused for a domestic pig that has been bred for food.
Are Guinea Pigs Rats?
A guinea pig is not actually a rat. This species of rodent belongs to the family Caviidae, which includes cavies and degus, while rats belong to the family Muridae.
The similarity between these two animals simply comes from the fact that they share features or traits in the same location on their body, such as whiskers. However, they are not related at all and are classified as different species by taxonomists.
